Adopt-a-Minefield  | Essay Contest | HERO Project | Model United Nations

Student Alliance | Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF | YPIC

Adopt-a-Minefield
Adopt-a-Minefield is a response to the global landmine crisis where individuals and communities raise money toward demining, providing prostheses, and educating about the problem. Our “Night of a Thousand Dinners” is a citizens' initiatives in which people host dinners during a certain period and accept donations. This year, the dinners were held between March 1,  2008, the date on which the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force, and April 4, the date now designated as International Day for Mine Awareness.

Essay Contest
Every Fall, the UNA-USA selects a current topic on which high school students nationally may write an essay, according to prescribed standards, and submit it to the local Chapter. The best essay in each Chapter is sent to the national office in January where the three top essays are selected and the winners receive cash prizes and national recognition.

HERO Project
The HERO campaign provides school-based support for children in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Ethiopia.  It works in the field to provide grants to local partners to implement “HERO Packages” at pre-school through twelfth grades pilot schools.

Model United Nations
Model United Nations is a club or group of students in a high school that simulate roles of ambassadors from UN member states to debate issues on the organization’s agenda. Student “delegates” prepare draft resolutions, plot strategy, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, and resolve conflicts using the UN’s rules of procedure.They may work within a school or participate in regional or national Model UNs.

Student Alliance
A Student Alliance is a group of at least 6 students, with a faculty advisor, in any elementary, junior high, high school, or college campus who becomes involved with the work of the United Nations by joining a national network. The students become UNA-USA members, paying a $10. annual fee, while the faculty advisor is given a free membership. They receive all the benefits of a regular membership.

We have a Student Alliance Chapter at Cupertino High School which has mobilized to help schools in Africa.  Read more about it here.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
This is a long-standing program where children collect money instead of candy, on Halloween and donate the proceeds to UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Young Professionals (YPIC)
Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) is a program that seeks to engage young professionals in discussions of international affairs, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation and the United Nations.

YPIC members are a diverse group of individuals from the fields of business, law, government, nonprofit, the arts and philanthropy.

YPIC provides an exciting opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals and gives young professionals from all walks of life a unique forum in which to learn more about current international issues, the United Nations, and the work of UNA-USA. We have just started a Midpeninsula YPIC- stay tuned! For more information visit www.ypicmidpeninsula.org or contact ypic [AT] unamidpen [DOT] org.